Right-Wing Terrorist Kills Doctor In Church

Churches are normally thought to be sanctuaries of peace, but a Wichita (Kansas) church was the scene Sunday of a right-wing terrorist attack, resulting in the murder of a doctor. Dr. George Tiller had been the victim of threats and attacks in the past -- his clinic (where he performed legal abortions) was bombed in 1985 and he was shot in both arms in 1993.

But on Sunday, the 67 year-old doctor was killed. He leaves behind a wife, four children and 10 grandchildren. After hearing of the murder, President Obama said, "However profound our differences as Americans over difficult issues such as abortion, they cannot be resolved by heinous acts of violence". The president said he was "shocked and outraged".

Police in Kansas City have arrested a suspect in the murder, but don't know yet if he planned the crime with others or whether it was a solitary crime. The suspect, Scott Roeder, was a member of the roght-wing group known as the Freemen, and there is evidence that he frequented anti-abortion web sites. He had been convicted in the past for having bomb components in his car.

The current president of Operation Rescue, Troy Newman, was quick to try and distance his organization from the crime. He said, "We are shocked at this morning's disturbing news that Mr. Tiller was gunned down. Operation Rescue has worked for years through peaceful, legal means, and through the proper channels to see him brought to justice. We denounce vigilantism and the cowardly act that took place this morning".

But Operation Rescue's founder, Randall Terry, was singing a different tune, and a far more disturbing one. He called the doctor a "mass murderer" and said, "He was an evil man - his hands were covered with blood". That sounds like he's praising the murderous actions of a follower.

That is just the kind of statement that can easily encourage someone prone to violence to commit a heinous crime like this murder. And most anti-abortion web sites are rife with those kind of statements.

This was a vicious and senseless crime. As Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL, says, "Dr. Tiller's murder will send a chill down the spines of the brave and courageous providers and other professionals who are part of reproductive-health centers that serve women across this country. We want them to know that they have our support as they move forward in providing these essential services in the aftermath of the shocking news from Wichita".

This crime simply cannot be justified, regardless of one's beliefs about abortion.